Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment designed to minimise the emotional distress associated with traumatic memories or incidents.

After EMDR therapy, clients report that the emotional distress related to the trauma has been eliminated or greatly decreased. These changes usually result in positive, spontaneous behavioural and personal change.

Is EMDR a recognised therapy?  

In 2005 EMDR was formally recognised by UK’s National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) for patients who are suffering from PTSD and have published ‘Understanding NICE guidance – information for people with PTSD, their advocates and carers, and the public’.

EMDR was endorsed in 2003 by the Northern Ireland Department of Health subgroup, "CREST" and is supported by research in the practice guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association and the US Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.

What can EMDR be used to treat?  

	road accidents
	traumatic childbirth
	sexual, physical or emotinal abuse
	distressing experiences (egcrime, accidents, violence)
	anxiety
	rape
	panic attacks
	grief
	disturbing memories
	phobias
	performance anxiety
	body dysmorphia
	active service
	etc

If this seems like you don’t have to suffer a moment longer, you can access EMDR therapy by calling 0161 710 2468 for EMDR in Manchester or send me an email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

How does EMDR work?

Sensory information (images, sounds, feelings, tastes and/or smells) from normal experiences passes through the amygdala, an emotional filter in the brain. This sensory information passes to our hippocampus where it is processed and stored as a memory. 

If a person is shocked or has experienced a traumatic event, the highly emotional and charged moments become ‘frozen in time’ and ‘stuck’ in the amygdala.  When the trauma is remembered, or experienced through flashbacks, intrusive thoughts or nightmares, it can feel as though the intense emotion and fear from the past is happening now.

EMDR enables clients to reprocess traumatic memories by gently stimulating the brain to move the memory from the amygdala to the archive of the hippocampus. The gentle bilateral stimulation is achieved through client’s eye movements, listening to sounds or through tactile stimulation.

The bilateral stimulation of EMDR creates biochemical changes in the brain and normal information processing is resumed. After EMDR the person no longer relives the images, sounds, and feelings when the trauma or disturbing event is brought to mind.

How long does EMDR take?

A typical EMDR session lasts from up to 90 minutes. The type of problem, life circumstances, and the amount of previous trauma will determine how many sessions are necessary.

Full treatment for a single trauma is generally accomplished within 3 sessions. If you have a complex or multiple traumas therapy may take longer.

How will you help me? 

By delivering a friendly, ethical and safe service where you can talk in confidence, explore your issues and discover new ways of living.  I am a UKCP registered Psychotherapist, EMDR Practitioner with a counselling and hypnotherapy background, meaning that every day I help people successfully overcome a wide range of issues and triumph over some of the most difficult times of their lives.

But, don’t just take my word for it; see the testimonials that clients have given permission to be published.